U.S.A. –-(Ammoland.com)- The tragic church shooting Sunday in White Settlement, Texas in which church members fatally shot the gunman provides more evidence that good guys with guns are necessary to stop bad guys, and that armed citizens can protect soft targets, the Second Amendment Foundation said today.
“This horrible shooting was live streamed, and shows how the killer was taken down within a few seconds of firing the first shot,” said SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb. “If one pays attention to the video, it appears that at least six and possibly seven members of the congregation drew sidearms to defend their fellow church members, and at least one member identified in published reports as part of the church security team fired a shot that took the gunman down.”
Gottlieb, co-author of the book, “Good Guys With Guns,” expressed sorrow that two members of the congregation were killed.
“Regrettably,” he stated, “there were casualties among the churchgoers, but in the flash of seconds, it is obvious that many more lives were saved by the quick action of a church member who was fortunately armed as a member of the church security team. Had it not been for his quick action and accurate shooting, this could have been much, much worse.”
Texas law allows churchgoers to be armed, a fact Gottlieb cited as crucial to saving lives.
“The fact that so many other church members were also armed, and did not open fire, demonstrates how responsibly armed citizens can perform in an emergency,” Gottlieb observed. “The video belies the oft-repeated myth that armed citizens are irresponsible and even dangerous to one another, which is something we address in ‘Good Guys With Guns’.”
“We don’t know what motivates someone to open fire on a peaceful church congregation,” Gottlieb said. “But thanks to the video, we know what stops them.”
About the Second Amendment Foundation
The Second Amendment Foundation (www.saf.org) is the nation’s oldest and largest tax-exempt education, research, publishing and legal action group focusing on the Constitutional right and heritage to privately own and possess firearms. Founded in 1974, The Foundation has grown to more than 650,000 members and supporters and conducts many programs designed to better inform the public about the consequences of gun control.
Don’t mean to be morbid nor insensitive, but any idea what firearm and caliber Mr Wilson was using?
Saw it elsewhere. Forget model, but it was a full size Sig in 357sig.
I too was curious. Also curious about type of shotgun. Next up bans on birdshead type grips and likely bumping SBS. To 20 plus inches. Is it selfish of me to hate evil people almost as much for impact on gun laws as I do for their evil acts.
It’s a church – place of welcome and worship. Bad guy had apparently been there multiple times in the past. From description of prior interactions, got to wonder why they had not previously banned him. While they still couldn’t just shoot him for showing up, they could have confronted him outside – possibly with better results.
Keep thinking concealed sniper with rifle might not be a bad idea, but remember security team is primarily there as parishioners. Members correctly assume that they will probably never need to act. To me this make church team’s response even more impressive.
sort of like the old town militias, right? Now we have the local church militias.. all able bodied, armed and skilled, to maintain “the security of a free state”….
@wjd – Well aware of TX LTC laws. My point was that most with an LTC are not continuously at high alert. Not sure which people were on the team, but they had advantage of already having been alerted to concern about the attacker. For most of us who are not combat vets, instant recognition and switch from peaceful existence to warrior mode is not instantaneous. While I’ve advanced to mediocre at IDPA, I do so with benefit of leisurely thinking through course of fire and knowing that at the beep I’m going to draw, move and fire. Experience show… Read more »
a church member who was fortunately armed as a member of the church security team. from what I’ve read about this man, he was armed at church long before any organised security team was formed at that place. He is likely armed EVERYWHERE he goes. And ready to do as needed to save lives. It would be more accurate to say “he was armed, AND also a member of the church security team”. Otherwise spot on article. Questionis HOW do we get articles like this, and the others I’ve seen from this perspective, on to the national media for the… Read more »
Pulling a gun on someone without very strong probable cause will get you charged with brandishing and shooting them will get you charged with murder. Even in Texas you will probably be convicted. They can meet threat at the door if they’re there, but remember team members are there for worship and security is just a side consideration. Once you start excluding people from your church, where do you stop? Churches tend to be open welcoming organizations and continuously recruiting. This guy certainly seems like a perfect candidate for exclusion- but also a perfect subject for application of the bleeding… Read more »
USA< take a moment and reread what he said…. he IS correct.. at what point did this guy cross the unseen line from a rough guy off the street possibly seeking change in his rotten life, to murderer? Other accounts I've read have the man who ended this mess notice the creep, point him out to the camera crew and a couple other security guys, to keep a close eye out. He began to draw as soon as the guy began to uncover his gun, and then to seek a good position. At 71 he has excellent control over his… Read more »
@USA – Awfully slow tag team. I was not suggesting that good guys would mow people down in the street, just saying (as Tio reiterated) that there is a line that must be crossed before lethal force is justified. In this case it was not reached until shotgun was pulled. I think we are in agreement that waiting until that point is waiting too long. Question is what non lethal options are available sooner. I suspect that if one person had asked him to leave, that would simply have triggered violence sooner. However surrounding him closely with at least three… Read more »
In January of 2017, a hispanic man, collected his baggage at the baggage carousel at Ft. Lauderdale airport. He opened his luggage, took out a handgun and started shooting people. If you recall, NO ONE RAN! They all got down on their knees and put their faces to the carpet. The hispanic man walked around shooting the sheep. You see some of that here: Shots are fired and half the parishioners are frozen in place, sitting upright. You can hear some female screaming in sheer terror, totally out of control with fear, continually screaming until well after it is all… Read more »
Yeah, TT, all that screaming just because she was distraught with having had her father shot less than twenty feet from her. She should have had better self control. You are the gift that keeps on giving.
@Roy & @wjd – Much as I agree with both of you, @TTJ does have a point in that natural freeze response is totally inappropriate in open when exposed to an active shooter. I suspect Jack Wilson and his team credit their training for their ability to react quickly, and consider their role to include protecting their friends so that everyone else can remain oblivious to the threats. As a parent, I certainly considered that one of my jobs. Kids don’t need to know about threats outside their control until they can mentally/emotionally handle it and preferably do something about… Read more »
Jack Wilson’s account of the incident confirms absolutely your suspicion. HE is the one providing most of the organisation, training, skill development, mindset, and such for the rest of the team. That creep never had a clue that the lead sheepdog was near enough, skilled enough, astute enough, calm and steady enough, and accurate enough to end his career of contempe for humanity. While perp was paying attention to his next desired target, apparently the pulpit and those up that way, Jack was fully concentrating on him, seeking to get a clear and safe shot. When the headshot presented, he… Read more »